Pan for baking bread

ABSTRACT

It comprises a plurality of baking moulds ( 2 ), a plate ( 3 ) acting as a cover of said pan ( 1 ), and means to prevent the raising of said plate as the bread is baked inside said moulds, and is characterized in that said means to prevent the raising of said plate comprise a fastening device ( 12 ) associated to a structure ( 9, 22 ) of said pan ( 1 ), said fastening device ( 12 ) including at least one hook ( 11 ) which is hingedly joined to a shaft ( 23 ) of said structure ( 9, 22 ), said hook ( 11 ) being susceptible of catching a portion ( 3   a ,  3   b ) of said plate ( 3 ) when it tilts on said shaft ( 23 ).

The present invention relates to a pan for baking bread on an industrialscale which has a plate acting as a cover and is, nevertheless, lightand easy to handle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pans are known for baking the type of bread known as pan loaf on anindustrial scale. These pans comprise a plurality of baking moulds and,in many cases, a plate acting as a cover of the pan.

Said plate acting as a cover is placed to avoid the upper part of thebread from becoming convex and thus obtaining, insofar as possible, aloaf of uniform square or rectangular section which is easy to handle.Nevertheless, it has been observed that, in practice, despite the use ofthe cover, the existing pans obtain a loaf which has many irregularitiesor bulges on its surface.

During the baking process of the pan loaf on an industrial scale, saidpans are displaced empty along chains until reaching the productionchain where the raw bread dough falls inside the moulds. Next, the pansare covered with said plate acting as a cover and they enter thefermentation process.

Once the dough has fermented, the pans enter the oven to bake the dough.During baking it is necessary to maintain the pans covered to guaranteethe square form of the bread. However, during baking the bread dough maydisplace the plate that serves as a cover. To prevent the raising of theplate, it is typical to use plates or covers of a heavy weight (6 to 8kg) which are not displaced with the thrust of the bread dough. However,these plates hinder fast heat transmission and are difficult to handle.

Fast heat transmission during the baking process is essential to avoidproblems in the quality of the inner structure of the bread (if the heatis not transmitted quickly it favours the formation of air bubbles).Therefore, to achieve a fast transmission of heat during baking, it isconvenient to reduce to a maximum the thickness of the plate thatconfigures the moulds, the same as the thickness of the plate acting asa cover of the pan. Nevertheless, if the plate that configures themoulds is of little thickness the mould base will tend to easily wearduring its displacement on the industry's transport chains. On the otherhand, if the plate acting as a cover is of little thickness, this platemoves during the baking of the bread preventing a loaf of uniformsection from being obtained.

To avoid wear of the pan, it is typical to resort to reinforcingstructures that laterally cover the pan and give it resistance. However,these reinforcing structures also hinder the uniform transmission ofheat in certain areas, which translates into a less homogeneous bakingwhich negatively affects obtaining a regular shaped loaf.

In light of the above, it would be desirable to have a light pan whichguarantees fast baking and obtaining a loaf with uniform section, whichwas resistant and easy to handle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the present invention is that of resolving theaforementioned drawbacks, providing a pan for baking bread which has theadvantages that will be described below.

In accordance with this objective, the present invention provides a panfor baking bread comprising a plurality of baking moulds, a plate actingas a cover of said moulds, and means to prevent the raising of saidplate as the bread is baked inside said moulds, and it is characterizedin that said means to prevent the raising of said plate comprise afastening device associated to a structure of said pan, said fasteningdevice including at least one hook which is hingedly joined to saidstructure, said hook being susceptible of fastening a portion of saidplate when it tilts on said structure.

The fastening device has the advantage that it effectively and safelyprevents raising the cover without the need to resort to the use ofplates with a heavy weight. In particular, it has been observed thatwith this fastening device the weight of the cover can be reduced toapproximately 4 kg, which positively results in a large energy saving(quicker baking with smaller energy consumption). Furthermore, the panis light and easy to handle.

Another advantage of the pan claimed lies in the fact that saidfastening device makes it possible to implement on an industrial scalean automatic process to place and remove the plate acting as a cover,externally actuating said hook or a counterweight that is associatedwith said hook. This positively leads to an improvement in the breadproduction yield.

Preferably, said fastening hook is hingedly joined to a shaft of astructure of the pan which is interposed between two of said bakingmoulds and, advantageously, said structure is joined to the outer wallsof two of the pan moulds. Again advantageously, said plate acting as acover comprises a lower portion which extends from the underside of saidplate, said lower portion being interposed between two of said moulds inorder that it can be gripped by said hook whilst said hook remainsconcealed under the plate in a closed position of the plate.

In this way, as the hook is concealed under the plate in the closedposition, a pan is obtained of a compact design which facilitatesindustrial handling, whilst it avoids the accidental opening of thehook.

According to a different embodiment, the plate comprises an upperportion arranged traversed in a plate groove, said hook beingsusceptible of fastening said upper portion when it tilts and traversessaid groove.

Preferably, said fastening hook is joined to a weight configured by wayof a counterweight to tilt said hook automatically and fasten the plate,said same weight being susceptible of acting as a counterweight ifactuated in the opposite direction to release the hook from the plate.

In this way, the cover is very easy to place and remove whichfacilitates the industrial application of the pan. For example, theweight acting as counterweight of the hook can be actuated in its lowerpart by a piston located under the transport chain of the pan to makethe hook tilt and release the plate. Alternatively, the hook can beactuated in its upper part to make it tilt and release the plate. Thesetwo options have been represented in the figures section of the presentapplication.

Advantageously, the structure of the pan whereto the fastening hook isjoined comprises a piece which acts as a stop to limit the tiltingmovement of the weight and said hook.

Again advantageously, the upper edge of said hook has a curved profileto facilitate the sliding and upper placement of the plate acting as acover.

According to an embodiment of the pan of the present invention, theplate acting as a cover comprises a plurality of recesses which act byway of a cover of each one of said moulds, each one of said recessesdefining an insert “e” of the plate in the upper edge of the walls ofsaid moulds. This insert “e” enables an adjustment between the plate andthe walls of the moulds which makes it possible to accurately fix thedimensions of the internal cavity wherein the dough is housed during thebaking. In this way, it guarantees that a loaf is obtained with uniformsection, since the dough growth space is exactly delimited. Furthermore,said insert “e” facilitates and contributes to the fastening of theplate.

The obtainment of a loaf with uniform section according to design and afree of irregularities on its surface have the advantage that itfacilitates handling during packaging. Indeed, it has been observed thatthe form of the uniform loaf facilitates the packaging process (use ofstandard measurement packaging).

Preferably, said recesses of the plate each define an insert “e” equalto or greater than 5 mm in the upper edge of the walls of said moulds.These recesses of the plate may be obtained by a process of inlaying orstamping of a sheet, preferably a metal sheet.

Advantageously, the surface of the recesses designed to cover theopening of the moulds has corrugations and, preferably, saidcorrugations configure waves with wavelengths equal to or less than 9mm. These corrugations have the advantage that they increase the heattransmission surface of the plate during baking. Again advantageously,the surface of the recesses designed to cover the opening of the mouldshas a cross-section of slightly convex profile. This avoids theformation of depressions in the bread after baking.

Preferably, the surface with corrugations of the recesses comprises aplurality of orifices to allow the entry of hot air. This air inletfavours fast heat transmission to the dough.

Advantageously, the pan moulds comprise sidewalls provided withcorrugations, lacking at least the upper edge of said walls of saidcorrugations to enable the insertion of the plate recesses. Thecorrugations in the sidewalls facilitate fast heat transmission duringbaking. Preferably, the corrugations of said side walls define aplurality of ribs which are vertically disposed with respect to the baseof said pan. It has been observed that the vertical ribs facilitate theextraction of the bread once baked and protect the inner coating of themoulds from wear.

According to a preferred embodiment, said pan comprises a reinforcingstructure which includes a tubular profile disposed on the periphery ofsaid pan, said tubular profile enveloping the edges of said moulds andsaid tubular profile being mounted separated from said edges so that itdefines a space for the air circulation. This enveloping tubular profilehas the advantage that it laterally reinforces the pan and enables atthe same time uniform baking since the hot air circulation guaranteesfast heat transmission to the edges of the moulds, which also translatesinto a significant energy saving.

Advantageously, said tubular profile is mounted so that it appreciablyprotrudes from the base of the moulds to protect said moulds from wear.Thanks to this, the same reinforcing structure of the pan edges protectsthe base of the moulds without negatively affecting the thermaltransmission of heat. All of this enables the manufacturing of aresistant pan which can be manufactured with sheet thicknesses less than1 mm, which again leads to a significant energy saving for the breadmaker.

According to said same preferred embodiment, said pan comprises meansfor the vertical stacking of two or more units, said stacking meansincluding a plurality of lugs which are vertically extended upwards fromthe reinforcing structure of the pan, said lugs being susceptible ofbeing inserted in a plurality of recipient cavities associated to thereinforcing structure of another pan, the plate acting as a cover of thepan being provided with a plurality of grooves wherethrough said lugsprotrude when the recesses of said plate cover the openings of themoulds. These means allow the vertical stacking of the pan without theneed to dispense with the reinforcing structure which protects the edgesand the base of the moulds.

Advantageously, each one of said lugs is configured from a profile whichdefines in its lower end a recipient cavity of the lug of another panand in its upper end a protuberance for the insertion of said lug in thecavity of another pan.

In the present invention, recess is understood as a portion of the plateacting as a cover configured to penetrate in the inner cavity of eachone of said moulds. These recesses are further configured so that eachdefines an insert “e” of the plate in the upper edge of the walls of themoulds. This insert “e” enables an adjustment of the plate in the innercavity of the moulds where the dough is housed.

Despite the fact that in this description reference has been made to thefastening device of the plate in combination with the recesses of saidplate, it is necessary to highlight that the configuration of a cover orplate with recesses is in itself a claimable aspect of the pan. In thissense, according to an also claimable aspect the present invention a panis provided for baking bread comprising a plurality of baking moulds, aplate acting as a cover of said moulds, and means to prevent the raisingof said plate as the bread is baked inside said moulds, and it ischaracterized in that the plate acting as a cover comprises a pluralityof recesses which act by way of a cover of each one of said moulds, eachone of said recesses defining an insert “e” of the plate in the upperedge of the walls of said moulds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

For a better understanding of all that disclosed, drawings are attachedwherein, diagrammatically and only as a non-limitative example, twoembodiments of the invention are represented.

In said drawings;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the pan providedwith four baking moulds.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the pan of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section of the pan of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the same pan of FIG. 1 provided with acover.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section of the pan of FIG. 4 showing the fasteningdevice of the cover.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section of the pan of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 shows a detail of the section of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal section of the cover of the pan which shows therecesses.

FIG. 9 is a detail of the cover of FIG. 8 which shows a recess and theinsert “e” defined by said recess.

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the pan. Inthis embodiment the hooks of the fastening device of the plate arejoined to structures of the pan which hang joined to the walls of twomoulds.

FIG. 11 shows a top perspective view of a plate which acts as a cover ofthe pan of the embodiment of FIG. 10.

FIGS. 12 and 13 are two cross-sections of the pan of FIG. 10 coveredwith the cover of FIG. 11. These sections diagrammatically show two waysof actuating the hook and the weight of the fastening device to releasethe plate acting as a cover.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment is described below of the pan of the presentinvention making reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.

The pan 1 of the present invention comprises four baking moulds 2 and aplate 3 acting as a cover of said moulds 2. These moulds 2 serve for thebaking, on an industrial scale, of the bread popularly called “panloaf”.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the pan 1 showing the enveloping tubularprofile 4 acting as reinforcing structure of the pan 1 and protects theedges of the moulds 2. This profile 4 is mounted on fastening parts 5integrally joined to the walls of the ends of the moulds 2. The sameFIG. 1 shows the corrugations 6 of the longer sidewalls 7 of the moulds2 which have the function of facilitating the fast heat transmissionduring the baking process of the dough. As can be observed in FIG. 1,these corrugations 6 define a plurality of vertical ribs 6 a withrespect to the base of the moulds 2 which have the function offacilitating the extraction of the bread once baked.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the pan 1 of FIG. 1 lacking the plate 3acting as a cover and FIG. 3 a cross-section of said pan 1. FIG. 2 showsthe air inlet orifices 8 of the base of the pan 1, and the bar 9 whereinthe supports 20 of the hooks 11 of the fastening device 12 of the plate3 are mounted. The ends of this bar 9 are integrally joined to theenveloping tubular profile 4 which protects the edges of the moulds 2.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the same pan 1 of FIG. 1 providedwith the plate 3 comprising the recesses 13 which act as cover of themoulds 2. As can be seen in this FIG. 4, the plate 3 is provided with aplurality of grooves 14 which extend longitudinally between each tworecesses 13. These grooves 14 facilitate the air circulation to favourthe heat transmission during the baking and, furthermore, enable theinstallation of the hooks 11 of the fastening device 12. The same FIG. 4shows the air inlet orifices 15 provided on the portions of the plate 3which define the recesses 13.

FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal section of the pan 1 provided with the plate3 which has the recesses 13 which act as cover of the moulds 2. As canbe seen in FIG. 6, the recesses 13 penetrate inside the cavity of themoulds 2 defining an insert “e” in the upper edge of the walls. The sameFIG. 6 shows the corrugations 16 of the surface of the recesses 13 andthe section of the enveloping tubular profile 4. This profile 4 acts asa reinforcement and is mounted separated from the edges of the moulds 2so that it defines a space 17 for the air circulation. Furthermore, ascan be observed in the section, the tubular profile 4 protrudes from thebase 2 a of the moulds 2 to protect said base 2 a from the wear causedby contact with the transport chains of the industry. In this way, thethickness of the sheet that the moulds 2 is manufactured with may belower than 1 mm, preferably of a thickness of 0.8 mm to facilitatemaximum energy saving.

It has been observed that the existence of this reinforcing tubularprofile 4 hinders the vertical stacking of the pans 1, since it wouldnot allow the introduction of a mould 2 of a pan 1 inside the mould ofanother pan similar to that claimed. To avoid this drawback, the presentinvention proposes means of vertical stacking which include lugs 18which extend vertically upward towards the reinforcing tubular profile 4and are susceptible of insertion in recipient cavities associated to thereinforcing structure or profile of another pan similar to that claimed.

In the embodiment described, each one of said lugs 18 is configured by aprofile which defines at its lower end a recipient cavity 19 of the lugof another pan and at its upper end a protuberance 18 a for theinsertion of said lug 18.

Returning to the plate 3 which has the recesses 13 which act as a cover,FIG. 9 shows a detail of the longitudinal section of the plate 3 of FIG.8 wherein the slightly convex profile of said recesses is observed 13,which, in this case, has been obtained by inlaying of the plate 3 anddefining a convexity of a height “h” of 2.20 mm. The same FIG. 9 showsthe corrugations 16 of the plate 3 which facilitate heat transmissionduring the baking, as well as the insert “e” to allow the adjustmentwith the upper edge of the walls of the moulds 2.

FIG. 7 shows a detail of the longitudinal section of the pan 1 whereinthe insert “e” of a recess 13 is observed of the plate 3 acting as acover in a mould 2 of the end of the pan 1. As can be seen in this FIG.7, the recess 13 penetrates in the inner cavity of the mould 2accurately adjusting to the upper edge 7 a of the walls 7 to exactlydelimit the growth space of the dough. In the same FIG. 7 it is observedhow the edge 7 a of the walls 7 of the mould is lacking corrugations toenable the insertion of the recess 13 of the plate 3.

Now returning to the fastening device 12 of the plate 3, FIG. 5 is across-section of the pan 1 of FIG. 3 wherein said device 12 is observedin detail. As can be seen in this FIG. 5, in the embodiment described,the fastening device 12 comprises a pair of hooks 11 which are hingedlyjoined to one end of a vertical support 20 which is joined to a bar 9integrally joined to the enveloping tubular profile 4. Each one of thehooks 11 automatically tilts towards the closed position thanks to aweight 21 which is associated to the body of the hook 11. On tilting tothis closed position, each one of the hooks 11 traverses a groove 14 ofthe plate 3 to catch an upper cover portion 3 a of said plate 3 by afastening member 11 a. The same FIG. 5 shows the upper rounded edge ofthe hooks 11 to facilitate the upper sliding of the plate 3 and thetilting of the hook 11.

The fastening device 12 claimed has the advantage that it is verysimple, effective and safe. Furthermore, it allows reducing the weightof the cover to approximately 4 kg which results in a lower energyconsumption during baking. On the other hand, said fastening device 12is very easy to apply industrially thanks to the automatic closuresystem. The pan 1 is light and resistant and guarantees the obtainmentof a loaf with a regular section, since the recesses 13 effectivelydelimit the bread baking cavity.

A second embodiment is described below of the present invention makingreference to FIGS. 10 to 13.

The embodiment of the pan 1 shown in FIG. 10 is differentiated from theaforementioned embodiment in the fact that the fastening device 12 isassociated to a pair of structures 22 of the pan 1 which are interposedbetween two moulds 2, so that they hang joined to the walls of saidmoulds 2. Each one of said structures 22 includes a shaft 23 whereto ishingedly joined a fastening hook 11 of the plate 3 acting as a cover.The hooks 11 can tilt on the shafts 23 to each catch a lower portion 3 bof the plate 3.

As with the previous embodiment, the hooks 11 automatically tilt to theclosed position thanks to a weight 21 which is configured by way of acounterweight and associated to the body of the hook 11. However, inthis embodiment, the hooks 11 remain concealed under the plate 3 in theclosed position of the plate 3, which provides a more compact designwhich further facilitated the handling of the pan 1 in the productionchain (see FIGS. 12 and 13). As can be observed in the sections of FIGS.12 and 13, in this embodiment, the plate 3 acting as a cover includes apair of lower portions 3 b which extend from the underside of the plate3 to be able to be gripped. FIG. 11 shows a top perspective view of theplate 3 where said lower portions 3 b can be observed.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show the shafts 23 whereon the hooks 11 tilt, and thepart 24 which acts as a stop to limit the movement of the hooks 11. Ascan be observed in these figures, in the closed position of the plate 3,the hooks 11 fasten the lower portions 3 b remaining at the same timeconcealed under the plate 3.

And as has been commented in the description of the invention, both thehooks 11 and the weights 21 can be actuated by a piston or equivalentmember to automatically and continuously release the plate 3 withouthaving to stop the production chain. For example, FIG. 12 schematicallyrepresents, a piston 25 disposed to actuate from the lower part of thepan 1 the weights 21 and make the hooks 11 tilt in order to release theplate 3.

FIG. 13 represents an alternative manner of releasing the same hook 11by an actuating member disposed to simultaneously press the edge of thehooks 11 and make the weights 21 tilt in order to release the plate 3.

Despite the fact that reference has been made to a specific embodimentof the invention, it is evident for a person skilled in the art thatnumerous variations and modifications can be introduced in the pan 1described, and that all the details mentioned can be replaced by othertechnically equivalent ones, without departing from the scope ofprotection defined by the attached claims. For example, although in thepresent invention the fastening device 12 has been described combinedwith a plate 3 provided, preferably, with recesses 13, the same device12 could be useful to apply in a pan provided with a conventional plate,this device 12 in itself constituting a claimable aspect of the presentapplication. Likewise, although the fastening hook 11 has been describedin FIGS. 1 to 9 hingedly joined to a shaft of the bar 9 through avertical support 20, the same hook can be joined or hinged directly to abar or part of the pan structure which is situated so that it allowsactuation of the weight 21 by the lower part or base of the pan, asshown in FIG. 12. This detail enables the automatic opening of the coverfrom the base making the hook tilt.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A pan for baking loaf bread, the pancomprising; a plurality of baking molds, each baking mold of theplurality of baking molds substantially having a shape of square prism;a plate acting as a cover of the pan; a fastening device that preventsraising of the plate as the bread is baked inside the plurality ofbaking molds, the fastening device being associated to a structure ofthe pan; wherein the fastening device includes at least one hook whichis articulately joined to a shaft of the structure of the pan which isinterposed between two of the baking molds; wherein the plate acts asthe cover and comprises a cover portion arranged to be gripped by thehook, the hook being disposed to fasten the cover portion of the platewhen it tilts by gravity on the structure by action of a weightconfigured by way of a counterweight; and wherein the hook is joined tosaid weight configured by way of the counterweight to make the hook tiltby gravity to grip the cover portion of the plate, said same weightbeing arranged to be able to be actuated in the opposite direction sothat its actuation makes the hook tilt automatically to release the hookfrom the cover portion of the plate.
 2. The pan according to claim 1,wherein the plate acting as the cover comprises the portion of the platewhich extends downwards from an underside of the plate, and said portionbeing interposed between two of the baking molds in order that it can begripped by the hook whilst the hook remains concealed under the plate.3. The pan according to claim 1, wherein the structure of the panwhereto the hook is joined comprises a piece which acts as a stop tolimit a tilting movement of the weight and the hook.
 4. The panaccording to claim 1, wherein the hook of the fastening device comprisesan upper edge with a curved profile to facilitate the upper sliding ofthe plate on the baking molds.
 5. The pan according claim 1, wherein theplate comprises a plurality of recesses, each one of the recesses actingby way of a cover of each one of the baking molds, each one of therecesses defining an insert (“e”) configured to penetrate in an innercavity of each one of the baking molds in an upper edge of walls of thebaking molds.
 6. The pan according to claim 5, wherein the recesses ofthe plate each define an insert (“e”) configured to penetrate the innercavity of the baking mold a distance equal or greater than 5 mm in theupper edge of the walls of the baking molds.
 7. The pan according toclaim 5, wherein the recesses each comprise a surface with corrugationsdesigned to cover an opening of the baking molds.
 8. The pan accordingto claim 7, wherein the surface with corrugations has a substantiallyconvex profile.
 9. The pan according to claim 7, wherein the surfacewith corrugations comprises a plurality of orifices to allow entry ofair.
 10. The pan according to claim 1, comprising a reinforcingstructure which includes a tubular profile disposed on a periphery ofthe pan, the tubular profile enveloping edges of the plurality of bakingmolds and the tubular profile being separated from the edges so that itdefines a space for air circulation.
 11. The pan according to claim 10,wherein the tubular profile is mounted so that it substantiallyprotrudes from a base of the baking molds.
 12. The pan according toclaim 10, comprising a plurality of lugs for vertical stacking of two ormore units, the plurality of lugs being associated to the reinforcingstructure of the pan and the lugs being susceptible of being inserted ina plurality of receiving cavities associated to the reinforcingstructure of another pan, the plate acting as a cover of the pan beingprovided with a plurality of grooves where through the lugs protrudewhen the recesses of the plate cover the openings of the baking molds.13. The pan according to claim 5, wherein side walls of the baking moldscomprise corrugations, lacking at least an upper edge of the walls ofthe corrugations to enable the insert of the recesses of the plate. 14.The pan according to claim 13, wherein the corrugations of the sidewalls define a plurality of ribs which are vertically disposed withrespect to a base of the pan.
 15. The pan according to claim 1, whereinsaid plate comprises an upper cover portion arranged traversed in aplate groove, said hook being susceptible of gripping said upper coverportion when it tilts and traverses the plate groove.
 16. The panaccording to claim 1, wherein the plate comprises a plurality of grooveswhich extend longitudinally between each two baking moulds, at least onegroove comprises a cover portion of the plate arranged to be able to begripped by the hook when it tilts by gravity by the action of the weightconfigured by way of a counterweight.